Lindsey Witmer Collins Launches GridMine to Map Critical Minerals

Lindsey Witmer Collins, CEO of WLCM App Studio and GridMine.us, launched GridMine to map above-ground reserves of copper and rare earth magnets. The initiative targets materials found in retiring turbines, dead electric vehicle batteries, and old wiring to address a growing scarcity of critical minerals.

Collins bases the venture on an investment thesis she calls the barbell, which prioritizes finite physical assets and in-person human experiences over services that can be replicated by synthetic AI generation. She argues that as AI automates content creation and middle-stack services, value is shifting toward these tangible resources.

The launch follows a late 2025 decision by the United States government to designate copper as a critical mineral due to its necessity for electrification and AI data centers. S&P Global estimates that the global supply gap for copper could reach 10 million metric tons by 2040.